How to have a Teaching Career
“Take three little steps so you can Teach. It’s easy as One, Two, Three, ABC or Doh Ray Me. Teacher, teach me how to teach”.
My name is Morel Benard, I am an Educator also Storyteller and Spoken Word Artist and from time-to-time I wear other hats. I like to educate and to entertain here at Study Coach UK.
In this blog I am putting the spotlight on a teaching career, I wonder if I could interest you in teaching and before you accuse me of trying to kill you off, definitely NO, it is not my intention. I have noted that many people on social media run courses, deliver tutorials and they make great reference to their students, they take great pride in their students achievements, it would therefore appear that young Influencers have an interest in teaching.
I am sure that some readers will be thinking: “No Morel, they don’t love teaching, it is simply a business opportunity to make money and to become Influencers”. Well, this could be true in some cases but I’m an optimist, so I’m choosing to believe that numbers of millennials are open to the idea of teaching as a career.
PURR-FECT TEACHER
Can you imagine standing in front of your first class ready to deliver an amazing lesson. You look great as always and your students are eagerly waiting to engage with learning.
Teaching will provide you with opportunities to help others to realise their potential, it should also challenge your mental ability. I also appreciate that you might not be quite ready to make the commitment to teach at this point in time, but it might be something you’re thinking about for the future, and given that most of us will have several careers in our lifetime, teaching could offer longevity. Teaching can also offer the opportunity to earn while you travel, so if you have the travel bug, it is worth considering gaining a teaching qualification, enabling you to teach abroad, while you visit beautiful locations and earn a living all at the same time.
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO
Okay, without further ado let’s consider what you will need to do in order to become qualified to teach. The steps are as easy as One, Two, Three, ABC, or Doh Ray Me.
STEP ONE:
Firstly, we might need to go back to School. In order to teach in the UK we need to achieve qualifications, potential employers will expect us to have a minimum of Grade C, GCSE in English and Maths and if we intend to teach at primary level (age 3 – 11) we will need to also achieve a GCSE in a Science subject. There is more: trainee teachers are expected to have ‘A’ levels or equivalent qualifications. If you have these qualifications then great, we can progress. If you don’t then you will need to register for a programme and start working towards GCSE’s requirements.
STEP TWO:
If you have GCSE’s and A levels or equivalent, the next step is to follow a programme of Initial Teacher Education and Training (ITET). Initial Teacher Education and Training will provide you with a combination of academic study and spending time in school where you will start to learn the art of teaching, learn about key teaching methods. Initial Teacher Education and Training, can be liken to your apprenticeship into Teaching.
STEP THREE:
Get that Degree and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). To teach in a state school in England, you must have a degree and gain (QTS). Note, that you can teach in independent schools, academies and free schools in England without QTS, but it is an advantage to have it, note that Statutory requirements are different depending where in the UK you want to train and ultimately teach. Why not make enquires about becoming a teacher in the UK, contact https://www.ucas.com/postgraduate/teacher-training/ucas-teacher-training-apply-and-track
LET THE BAG TAKE THE STRAIN
Teaching will require you to deal with a tremendous amount of paperwork, books, handouts and students answer books for marking can eventually place a strain on your physical health. Smart teachers will invest in a bag to help lighten the load, you could consider the following Roller Bag item:
NARIC and SKILLS TESTS
Non-UK qualifications will need a Statement of Comparability from NARIC (National Academic Recognition Information Centre). If your school certificates/degree were achieved abroad, simply make an application to NARIC to check if your qualifications are equivalent to UK GCSE’s, A levels and undergraduate degree.
You’ll also need to pass the Professional Skills Tests in Numeracy and Literacy, this is usually done before beginning your Teacher Training. See the Department for Education 2018 changes to the professional skills tests www.gov.uk/department-for-education
Do check, with the Department of Education, particularly if you have taken the tests before and not achieved it, check to see if the new 2018 changes allow you to now resit the test and without further costs.
DISCLOSURE
This page contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of them I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support.
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Morel Benard at Study Coach UK (Educator/Storyteller/Spoken Word Artist)
